We need a smarter than average leader

Published: Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 7:01 p.m.

To The Editor: According to CNN, ABC News, and even the candidate himself, John McCain graduated in the lowest one percent of his Naval Academy class. He ranked an utterly abysmal 894th of 899 students!

We’ve suffered through eight years with a not-so-hot student at the helm. Let’s be smarter than to settle for second best this time.

With our country currently embroiled in two major wars, our international reputation in total shambles, and our economy strangled by a “$10 Trillion” national debt, can we rationally afford to allow ourselves to be governed by a mediocre student who’s become a fiery-tempered, increasingly erratic, often-confused elderly “maverick” who suffers from “Short Fuse Syndrome?” You betcha we can’t.

Even McCain’s friend and colleague, Republican Sen. Rick Santorum of Pa, says of John McCain: “I don’t think he has the temperament and leadership ability to move the country in the right direction.”

Barack Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. He is obviously the voters’ only choice in the upcoming election. Obama’s ability to bridge divisions — racial, ideological and generational — makes him exactly the president America needs in these terribly troubled times.

If you care about your country, check these Web sites: http://tinyurl.com/43m6rr and http://tinyurl.com/45dlgu.

<p>To The Editor: According to CNN, ABC News, and even the candidate himself, John McCain graduated in the lowest one percent of his Naval Academy class. He ranked an utterly abysmal 894th of 899 students!</p><p>We’ve suffered through eight years with a not-so-hot student at the helm. Let’s be smarter than to settle for second best this time.</p><p>With our country currently embroiled in two major wars, our international reputation in total shambles, and our economy strangled by a $10 Trillion national debt, can we rationally afford to allow ourselves to be governed by a mediocre student who’s become a fiery-tempered, increasingly erratic, often-confused elderly maverick who suffers from Short Fuse Syndrome? You betcha we can’t.</p><p>Even McCain’s friend and colleague, Republican Sen. Rick Santorum of Pa, says of John McCain: I don’t think he has the temperament and leadership ability to move the country in the right direction.</p><p>Barack Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. He is obviously the voters’ only choice in the upcoming election. Obama’s ability to bridge divisions  racial, ideological and generational  makes him exactly the president America needs in these terribly troubled times.</p><p>If you care about your country, check these Web sites: http://tinyurl.com/43m6rr and http://tinyurl.com/45dlgu.</p><p>Linda Harney</p><p>Flat Rock</p>